Fluid-pressure regulator



(No Model.)

W. ROSS. FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 404,503. I Patented June 4, 1889.,

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UNITED STATES PATENT Unmet...

XVILLIAM ROSS, ()F TROY, NEV YORK.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,503, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed December 31, 1887. Serial No. 259,523. (No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

dent of the city of Troy, in the county of Reusselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Pressure Regulators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, that will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and-use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

' Similar letters refer to similar parts-in the several figures therein.

My invention relates to improvements in fluid-pressure regulators; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The objects of the invention are made to appear in connection with the following description.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a central vertical section of my improved regulator, showing the main valve fully open and the various parts in the position assumed when not subjected to fluid-pressure. Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, showing the main valve nearly closed and the parts in the position assumed when subjected to fluidpressure. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the regulator with the screw-cap removed. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the two valve-stems, taken on the broken line a: a: in Fig. 2.

Various forms of pressure-regulators and reducing-valves have been heretofore made and used, in which the movements of a main valve were controlled by a regulating-valve, the latter valve yielding to an excess of fluidpressure above a predetermined amount to vary the fluid-pressure uponthe opposite sides of the main valve or its connected actuating-piston, or to vary the superficial area of such sides exposed to a uniform pressure. In all such *alves there has been no positive connection between the main and regulating valves, and the control of the one over the other was wholly lost when the main valve was opened by the introduction of the fluid under pressure, and it was necessary to introduce an actuating-spring to act directly upon the main valve, to partially close the same, before sufficient variation of fluid-pressurecould be established by the regulatingvalve, or otherwise, on the opposite sides of the main valve or its actuating-piston to move said valve. After the main valve was partially closed to produce an unequal fluid-- pressure in the inlet and outlet chambers of the valve-case it became balanced, and this balance was maintained by the regulatingvalve to reduce the pressure in the outletchamber to the predetermined amount so long as all the parts were maintained in their active normal condition. As the fluid duct or runway controlled by the regulating-valve is necessarily very small, the lodgment of a small scale, cinder, or other obstruction between the regulating-valve and its seat would destroy or seriously impair its regulating capacity.

In my improved pressure-regulator the main and regulating valves travel in the same direction in going to and from their seats. This arrangement enables me to link the two valves together in such a manner that the regulating-valve can be moved, independently of the main valve, a suflicient distance to maintain the main valve in equilibrium, after it has been balanced to reduce the pressure in the outlet-chamber and so long as all the parts remain in their normal active condition, and in such a manner thatthe regulating-valve actually engages with the main valve to communicate to it positive movements to force it from a wide-open position ;to said balanced position and to positively maintain it, by contact, approximately in such balanced position in case the regulating-valve for any reason fails to operate as a valve.

My improved pressure-regulator will be readily understood upon referring to the drawings, in which A represents the shell or main-valve case, inclosing two chambers A and A separated from each other by the diaphragm A ,hav

ing a passage-way A leading from one chamber to the other, the edge of the diaphragm surrounding the passage-way forming a seat for the main valve B.

A is the inlet-chamber, communicating.

with the exterior through the inlet-opening A, and A is the outlet-chamber, opening exteriorlythrough the outlet-opening A.

The main-valve case is provided with the cylinder 0, open to the inlet-chamber at one end and closed at the other end by the screwcap 0. The cylinder is adapted to receive the piston 0 secured upon the cylindrical stem B of the main valve. The main-valve stem is provided with a central l()l'lgll7lldlll{l,l opening which contains the regulating'valve l), movable longitudinally of said opening.

The regulating-valve is provided with a stem which passes up through the face of the main valve, through the passage-way A and outlet-chamber, and is secured at its upper end to a piston E, vibratory in a cylinder E, opening at its lower end into the outlet-chamber A and at its upper end to the atmosphere in the spring-chamber F. The spring-chamber contains the coil-spring F, the lower end of which bears upon the piston E and the upper end upon the lower end of adjustingscrew F rotary in the threaded nut F, forming the upper end of the spring-chamber, the upper end of the screw being provided with an operating-handle F, fixed thereon, by which the degree of pressure exerted by the spring upon the piston E may be varied, as desired. A duct or runway is provided, which leads from the interior of the closed end of cylinder 0 to and through the passage-way A into the outlet-chamber formed by the small apertures D running through the regulating-valve, the central aperture through the main-valve stem, and grooves I) in the periphery of the regulating-valve stem.

The central opening through the main-valve stem is contracted at a point intermediately of its ends by a flange B to form a seat on its lower side for the regulating-valve.

The stem of the regulating valve is cut down to a smaller diameter, to pass through the contracted opening formed by the flange without elosin g the runway through the same and to form a projecting shoulder D on one side of the regulating-valve stem, adapted to engage with the flange when required to communicate a positive downward movement to the main valve. A similar positive upward movement may be communicated to theinain valve by forcing the regulating-valve upward againstits seat on the lower side of the flange.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the main and regulating valves are linked together, and that only a slight movement can be given the regulating-valve without engaging with the main-valve stem,to communicate to it similar positive movements, unless the main valve is previously actuated by the fluidpressure or other means. Another runway for the fluid, consisting of the small aperture 13, through the shell of the main-valve stem, puts the inlet -chamber in communication with the interior of the closed end of the cylinder G. The ports through which the apertures B" enter the central opening of the main-valve stem, when more than one is employed, are preferably arranged to be simultaneously controlled or regulated by the regulating valve, also so as to be opened thereby when the said valve acts to close the runway leading to the outlet-chamber, and, conversely, to be closed thereby when the other runway is opened. The runway leading to the outlet-chamber may be designated as the eduction-runway and the one lead ing from the inlet-chamber the induetioi'irunway.

The operation of my improved pressureregulator is as follows: The fluid under presspure is admitted to the inletchamber, and if the main valve is not fully open the pressure of the fluid at once acts upon the piston of the main-valve to force the valve open to the position shown in Fig. 1. The fluid then passes through the main passage-way into the outlet-chamber and acts upon the piston E-to force it outward. Suppose the fluid enters the inlet-chamber at a pressure of four atmospheres and the spring is adjusted to cause the piston E to resist a pressure of one atmosphere only. Then as soon as the pressure in the outlet-chamber reaches that of one atmosphere the spring-controlled piston will be driven outward, forcing the regulatingvalve against its seat on the interior flange in the stem of the main valve and then forcing the latter valve to its seat, closing the main passage way between the two chambers, thereby cutting off the passage of the fluid to the outlet-chamber, the ports of the induetionrunway having been opened at the same time that the regulating-valve was seated and the eduction-runway closed, thereby admitting the fluid back of the main-valve piston to offset the pressure on the inlet-chamber side of the piston. As the pressure in the outletchamber falls, the spring drives the piston E inward, forcing the regulating-valve from its seat to open the eduction-runway, thereby permitting the escape of the fluid from the inelosed end of cylinder C to the outlet-chamber and causing the excess of pressure in the inlet-chamber to force the main valve from its seat, all the parts occupying approximately the positions shown in Fig. 2, in which positious the parts will afterward remain with slight fluctuations, maintaining an approximately constant pressure of one atmosphere in the outlet-chamber.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, the induction and eduction runways are both partly open, which permits a small but constant flow of the fluid through the same past the regulatingwalve from the inlet-chamber to the outlet-chamber.

Should there happen to be a slight excess of pressure above the one atmosphere in the outlet-chamber, the spring would yield to the excess and force the regulating-valve in adirection to close the ed notion-runway and open the ind uction-runway, which would create an excess of pressure in the closed end of the cylinder and force the valve in a direction to close the main passage-way. ()n the other Lil hand, should the pressure-in the outlet-chamber fall below the one atmosphere, the resiliency of the spring would drive the springcontrolled piston inward and force the regulating-valve in a direction to open the eduction-runway and close the induction-runway, thereby creating an excess of pressure on the inlet-chamber side of the main-valve piston, which forces the valve in a direction to open the main passage-way.

It is not essential to the operation of my improved device that both runways should be controlled by the regulating-valve, and the induction runways may be made directly through the piston when desired; but when it is required to reduce a very high pressure to a low pressure a more steady action of the parts can be obtained by controlling bot-h runways.

It should be observed that when the main valve .is wide open, as shown in Fig. 1, the face of the main valve is exposed to the full pressure of the inlet-chamber and the admission of the same pressure back of the valveactuating piston, as through the inductionrunway, would not close the valve. In the use of other valves actuating-springs have been resorted to to close the valve, but such springs are liable to break or get out of order.

By seating the main and regulating valves in the same direction and one within and upon the other I am able to link them together and force the main valve to its seat by positive engagement with the regulating-valve, which is moved by the pressure in the outlet-chamber upon a yielding section or bridge forming a part of the case surrounding the outletchamber. This bridge may be a piston, as shown by the solid lines, or a diaphragm, as shown by the dotted line 3 in Fig. 1, or any well-known appliance.

In case a cinder or other obstacle should find a lodgment between the regulating-valve and its seat to prevent the full control of the runways, the main valve would be practically fixed upon the regulating-valve stem and be approximately controlled by the spring-controlled piston.

The main valve could not possibly fly wide open and suddenly raise the pressure in the outlet-chamber to that of the inlet-chamber.

By locating the regulating-valve within the main-valve stem and projecting its stem through an aperture adapted. to fit and receive it, to a support in the outlet-chamber, the main valve is thereby accurately guided to its seat without the necessity of other support than its actuating-piston, the two valves and the stems coacting to support and guide each other to their respective seats.

It sometimes happens that the bridge-controlling spring F will break and necessitate shutting off the fluid-pressure at once until a new spring or regulator can be introduced, causing considerable loss and delay.

I provide the screw with a stem H, projectin g downwardly within the coil-sprin g nearly to contact with the spring-controlled piston or bridge; also with a detachable stop, as pin H, adapted to be inserted in an aperture in the screw, which prevents the screw from'being turned so far in adjusting the spring as to bring the downwardly-proj ectin g stem into contact with the bridge, so long as it is desired to control the bridge by the spring; but if the spring should break, or for any reason it should be desirable, the stop may be removed and the screw rotated until the stemcomes in contact with the bridge and secures it at the desired point to approximately maintain the required pressure in the outletchamber.

The regulator can thus at once and without shutting off the fl uid-pressu re be changed from the control of a spring to the positive control of a screw.

Vhat' I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A main-valve case having inlet and outlet chambers opening eXteriorly and connected interiorly by a passage-way, in combination with the main valve controlling said passage-way, a connected valve-actuatin g piston and its cylinder closed at one end, the closed end being connected by runways with the inlet and outlet chambers, and a runwayregulating valve, operated substantially as described, and linked to the main valve, for the purpose of regulating one of said runways and at the same time affording means for communicating positive movements to the main valve, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. A main-valve case having inlet and outlet chambers opening exteriorly and connected interiorly by a passage-way, in combination with the main valve controlling said passage -way, a connected valve actuating piston and its cylinder closed at one end, the closed end being connected by runways with the inlet and outlet chambers, a regulatingvalveseat for each of said runways, and a regulating-valve located between said seats and common to both for the purpose of conversely and simultaneously controlling both of said runways, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. A main-valve case having inlet and outlet chambers opening exteriorly and connected interiorly by a passage-way, in combination with the main valve controlling said passage way, a connected. valve actuating piston and its cylinder opened at oneend, the closed end being connected by runways with the inlet and outlet chambers, aregulating-valve seat located upon the main Valve, and a regulating-valve connected with and actuated by a movable part of the outletchamber case, the movable part being arranged to yield in a direction to seat both valves to an excess of pressure above a predetermined amount in the outlet-chamber, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

IIO

4. A main-valve case having inlet and outlet chambers opening exteriorly and connected interior-1y by a passage-way, in combination with the main valve controlling said passage-way, a connected valve-actuating piston and its cylinder closed at one end, the closed end being connected by runways with the inlet and outlet chambers, a runwayregulating valve located within the main valve and provided with a stem projecting from a loosely-fitting aperture in the face of the main valve through the chamber-connecting passage-way to a support in the outletchamber, whereby the supportingstem of the regulating-valve serves to guide the main valve to its seat, substantially as described.

5. A main-valve case having inlet and outlet chambers opening exteriorly and connected interiorly by a passage-way, in combination with the main valve controlling said passage-way, a connected valve-actuating piston and its cylinder closed at one end, the

closed end being connected by runways with the inlet and outlet chambers, a spring-inclosing chamber separated from the outlet chamber by a movable springcontrolled bridge or section, a runway-regulating valve connected with the bridge, bridge-controlling spring, and spring-regulating screw fitting a threaded receivingaperture opening out of the spring-chamber and provided with interiorly and outwardly projecting stems, the outwai-d- 'irojecting stem having a detachable stop for the purpose of changing a pressureregulator from the control of a spring to the positive control of a screw, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of December, 1887.

WILLIAM ROSS.

\Vitnesses:

Gino. A. Mosimn, W. H. HoLLisTnR, Jr. 

